Cleomedes Enters Shadow

Just north of Mare Crisium and formed during the Nectarian period is the 128 km. walled plain crater Cleomedes. This crater has a high but worn margin and was nicely catching the last rays of sunlight overnight. Selenologists believe the floor may have been flooded by lava that reached the crater through fractures from the molten lava of Mare Crisium. What remains of the central peak is a low wall oriented north-south and somewhat off center. A hint of 60 km. long Rima Cleomedes was just detectable north of the central wall running off to the southeast. To the northwest of Cleomedes is 57 km. crater Burckhardt straddled by its close partners E and F (both deep in shadow). Off to the northwest is crater Tralles (43 km.) hugging the rim and on the floor of Cleomedes are small craters J and B seen near the central wall.

FrankThat is another great lunar sketch. I find it impossible to draw any substantial lunar detail right at the terminator,with the light changing so rapidly.I usually cant get one simple crater done.I also like your choice of Pastel on black paper.

You can do this. You must decide before you start drawing if you are going to do the terminator first or last. Sometimes my terminator features are impossible views because one part is 45 minutes different from another. I try not to let that happen. You will gain confidence by doing practice sketches for speed. You need to know in advance how long it takes you to sketch a feature. On some sketches I have completely erased a crater on the terminator because it looked better later during the sketch.Start small- do simple smaller crater first. Get the shape and the shadows and the rest will gradually come along.Sketching the Moon is very satisfying.

Frank, you are a lunar freak. Your perseverance and deliberation must be akin to a wild cat during the hunt. I am mesmerized by the degree of detail available, here. Cleomedes is gorgeous...I love the contrast of the smaller craters tops within as they "pop" into the landscape. But I am unduly frightened by the fractured landscape to the upper left of the crater. Your work is inspiring me to give the lunar surface another trial. Brilliant sketch.

Quite nice. I see why you wanted to do Cleomedes at this time in the lunar cycle--the scene has very dramatic lighting. And isn't this the crater that looks like Mickey Mouse when the Moon is waxing? It goes from drama to cartoon.

Frank, you are a lunar freak. Your perseverance and deliberation must be akin to a wild cat during the hunt. I am mesmerized by the degree of detail available, here. Cleomedes is gorgeous...I love the contrast of the smaller craters tops within as they "pop" into the landscape. But I am unduly frightened by the fractured landscape to the upper left of the crater. Your work is inspiring me to give the lunar surface another trial. Brilliant sketch.

Jason, Frank isn't just a lunar freak--he's one of the co-authors of Sketching the Moon An Astronomical Artist's Guide . [Hint: his nom de internet rhymes with McCague]

Lunar sketching is daunting. Frank and his co-authors take away the fear with this wonderful how-to book.